Heat transfer material

ABSTRACT

The invention teaches an apparatus and method for using an apparatus that allows heat to be directed away from a heat source. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to heat transfer, and more particularly to material that facilitates heat transfer.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Interpretation Considerations

This section describes the technical field in more detail, and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35 U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement is to be construed as prior art.

Discussion

Heat is a problem in many environments. For example, in the aerospace industries, heat build-up can destroy sensitive electronic parts. Similarly, heat build-up can incapacitate a person in a sporting event, at work, or at any other physically demanding activity. Likewise a heat profile can be used to identify a person, such as a soldier, with infrared technology--even when identification is not desired. Accordingly, it is desired to have a method for transferring heat away from the origin of the heat and to a second location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by reference to the following detailed description. To better understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plurality of heat transfer beads arranged in a matrix;

FIG. 2 is a cut-view of a heat-transfer bead taken along cut-line 2-2; and

FIG. 3 is a top-down view of a heat-transfer bead taken along cut-line 3-3.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF A BEST MODE

Interpretation Considerations

When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way.

Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”).

Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for -functioning-” or “step for -functioning-” in the Claims section. Sixth, the invention is also described in view of the Festo decisions, and, in that regard, the claims and the invention incorporate equivalents known, foreseeable, and unforeseeable. Seventh, the language and each word used in the invention should be given the ordinary interpretation of the language and the word, unless indicated otherwise. It should be noted in the following discussion that acts with like names are performed in like manners, unless otherwise stated. Of course, the foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be given their ordinary plain meaning unless indicated otherwise. Further, indications of orientation are not to be given absolute interpretation with respect to a fixed origin or axis, but are rather provided to give general reference orientations with respect to other provided general orientations.

Description of the Drawings

The heat transfer fabric of the present invention uses fiber optic technology to draw heat away from a heat source so that the heat source can be cooled. One apparatus for providing a heat transfer fabric is shown in FIG. 1 that shows a plurality of heat transfer beads 110-121 arranged in a matrix to form a heat transfer fabric (FIG. 1, generally), and FIG. 2 that shows a cut-view of a heat-transfer bead taken along cut-line 2-2. Thus, in general, a heat transfer fabric comprises at least one (a first) heat transfer bead 111. The first heat transfer bead 111 then comprises a heat transfer portion 150 that comprises a plurality of fiber optic cable portions 151, 152 that are substantially parallel to one another, and a foundation portion 160 that comprises a wall portion 162 (no more than 0.125 inches tall) and a coupling portion 164. A binder 172 couples a fiber optic cable portion 154 to the wall portion 162. Preferably, the binder 170, 172 is an epoxy, or a silicon-based material (such as what is commonly known in the art as silicon I or silicon II) but may be any material that couples a fiber optic cable to either another fiber optic cable or a foundation portion, such as connective tissue, webbing, fibers, or adhesives, for example. Thus, the binder may be used to couple a first fiber optic cable portion to a second fiber optic cable portion such that the first fiber optic cable portion and the second fiber optic cable portion are substantially parallel. In one embodiment the foundation portions are cast as a single unit, while in an alternative embodiment a binder may couple a first foundation portion to a second foundation portion.

Now, referring to FIG. 2 in more detail, the foundation comprises the wall portion 162 that has a generally planar surface that is substantially vertically oriented, and has a top 166 and a bottom 167. The foundation is in one embodiment elastic, or otherwise comprises an elastic material, and in another embodiment is a polypropelene-based material that resist weakness with repeated stretching and flexing.

Each fiber optic cable portion 152, 154, etc. has a length “1” as its longest proportion (in one embodiment no more than 0.125 inches long), a top 157, and a bottom 158, the bottom 158 adapted to accept heat illustrated as incoming heat waves 190 which emanate from a heat source 188 and into each fiber optic cable portion 152, 154. Cable portions may be nalgene material. Similarly, the top 157 is adapted to allow heat to release from the fiber optic cable portion 152, illustrates as a plurality of outgoing heat waves 192 which emanate in the direction of arrow 195. One structure that achieves this functionality is to form or cut each bottom like a smooth lens, and to form or cut the top to be serrated. Of course, it is understood that other applicable shapes are readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the fiber optic arts.

Other fiber optic cable portions function similarly. In one embodiment, to allow heat to leave the fiber optic cable portion, the top 157 of the fiber optic cable portion 152 is substantially uncurved. Here it is worth noting that although the top 157 is shown as being flush with each fiber optic cable portion, this is not necessarily the case; rather, the top 157 may be located above or below the uppermost location of each fiber optic cable portion. The same is true for the bottom 167. In one embodiment of the fiber optic cable portion, the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion is curved to be substantially convex or substantially concave. A binding hole 165 provides a conduit for the binder to flow or to run-through, depending on the type of binder chosen.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a second heat transfer bead 112 having a second coupling portion 182 connects with the first heat transfer bead 111 to the second heat transfer bead 112 at the coupling portion 164. As is observed, space may form between beads, particularly non-rectangular beads, to form air space, such as the air space 190, between the first heat transfer bead 111 and the second heat transfer bead 112. Additionally, coupling portions may be bound together via braiding or other forms of mechanical coupling/attachment.

FIG. 3 is a top-down view of a heat-transfer bead 311 taken along cut-lint 3-3. From this view one can see a top-down view of the bead, from which the plurality of fiber optic cable portions 352 are visible. The plurality of fiber optic cable portions of FIG. 3 are bound together by binder 370, which may be a single binding compound or material, such as silicon or lowered viscosity silicon (silicon II), or may comprise a plurality of compounds or materials to form both a homogenized binding and/or a binding that comprises discrete locations of different binding materials. The binder 370 is shown having an exaggerated portion to illustrate that a heat transfer bead binder (here having a boundary defined by binder 370) is not limited to any geometric form, but may be round or a rounded square (as shown), or any other shape as desired for a particular application. Thus, heat transfer bead shapes and sizes may vary even within an application. Further, in some applications, it is desirable to minimize the air space between the binder/wall portions of the heat transfer beads (forming a “tight” or “stiff” material formation). The fiber optic cable portions 352 are bound in a matrix to form the fabric via a foundation portion 360, which comprises a plurality of wall portions 362 and a plurality of coupling portions 364. Alternatively, in one embodiment, wall portions are defined by the boundaries formed by coupling portions.

In another aspect, the invention is a method of directing heat away from a heat source. In general, the method places a heat transfer bead, which may comprise a fiber optic cable portion, in proximity to a heat source, where the bottom of the heat transfer bead is maintained closer to the heat source than the top of the heat transfer bead. Then, heat generated by the heat source is captured, and then directed away from the heat source. Next, the heat is released away from the heat source and from the top of the heat transfer bead. The fiber optic cable portion comprises a length, a top and a bottom, the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion being positioned proximate to the bottom of the heat transfer bead, and the top of the fiber optic cable portion being proximate to the top of the heat transfer bead. In addition, the bottom of each fiber optic cable portion is adapted to allow heat to enter the fiber optic cable portion, and, similarly, the top of the fiber optic cable portion is adapted to allow heat to escape the fiber optic cable portion.

Of course, it should be understood that the order of the acts of the algorithms discussed herein may be accomplished in different order depending on the preferences of those skilled in the art. Furthermore, though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims and their equivalents be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications. 

1. A heat transfer fabric, comprising: a first heat transfer bead, comprising a heat transfer portion, the heat transfer portion comprising a plurality of fiber optic cable portions, the fiber optic cable portions substantially parallel to one another, and a foundation portion comprising a wall portion and a coupling portion, and a binder that couples a fiber optic cable portion to a wall portion.
 2. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the binder is a silicone.
 3. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the binder couples a first fiber optic cable portion to a second fiber optic cable portion such that the first fiber optic cable portion and the second fiber optic cable portion are substantially parallel.
 4. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 further comprising a coupling portion that couples a first foundation portion to a second foundation portion.
 5. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the wall portion has a generally planar surface that is substantially vertically oriented, and has a top and a bottom.
 6. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein each fiber optic cable portion has a length as its longest proportion, a top, and a bottom, the bottom adapted to accept heat and the top adapted to allow heat to release from the fiber optic cable portion.
 7. The heat transfer fabric of claim 6 wherein the top of the fiber optic cable portion is substantially uncurved.
 8. The heat transfer fabric of claim 6 wherein the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion is substantially convex.
 9. The heat transfer fabric of claim 6 wherein the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion is substantially concave.
 10. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 further comprising a second heat transfer bead having a second coupling portion that connects with the first heat transfer bead to the second heat transfer bead at the coupling portion.
 11. The heat transfer fabric of claim 10 further comprising an air space between the first heat transfer bead and the second heat transfer bead.
 12. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the wall comprises a binding hole.
 13. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the foundation comprises an elastic material.
 14. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein the wall portion is no more than 0.125 inches thick.
 15. The heat transfer fabric of claim 1 wherein each fiber optic cable portion is no more than 0.125 inches thick.
 16. A method of directing heat away from a heat source, comprising: placing a heat transfer bead in proximity to a heat source, the heat transfer bead having a top and a bottom, the bottom being closer to the heat source than the top; capturing heat generated by the heat source; directing the heat away from the heat source; and releasing the heat away from the heat source and from the top of the heat transfer bead.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the heat transfer bead comprises a fiber optic cable portion.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the fiber optic cable portion comprises a length, a top and a bottom, the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion being positioned proximate to the bottom of the heat transfer bead, and the top of the fiber optic cable portion being proximate to the top of the heat transfer bead.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the bottom of the fiber optic cable portion is adapted to allow heat to enter the fiber optic cable portion.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the top of the fiber optic cable portion is adapted to allow heat to escape the fiber optic cable portion. 